Apparatus for Supporting a Furnace with its Bottom Spaced Above a Support Surface

ABSTRACT

A furnace for heating a building has its bottom supported spaced above a support surface by an apparatus which comprises a furnace engagement member defining a generally planar top surface for contacting the bottom of the furnace and an underside which is opposite to the top surface; an attachment arrangement respectively located at or adjacent each end of the furnace engagement member and arranged for facilitating connection thereof to a respective flange of the furnace defining the bottom of the furnace; and a leg oriented transversely to the generally planar top surface and coupled to the underside of the furnace engagement member at a location thereon which is spaced in a longitudinal direction from a respective end of the furnace engagement member further inwardly than the attachment arrangement disposed thereat or adjacent thereto.

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119( ) of Provisionalapplication 62/807,581 filed Feb. 19, 2019.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a bottom ofa furnace which is for heating a building where the bottom of thefurnace is defined by a plurality of flanges extending inwardly from aperiphery of the furnace collectively defined by a front, a rear andopposite sides of the furnace.

BACKGROUND

A furnace for heating a building typically is mounted with its bottomspaced above a support surface, such as a concrete floor in a basementof the building. Conventional means of supporting the furnace includeinserting shims under the furnace bottom to bridge a gap between thebottom of the furnace and the support surface or locating the bottom onconcrete pads which are rested on the support surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatusfor supporting a furnace used to heat a building, the furnace having abottom which is spaced above a support surface of the building and whichis defined by a plurality of flanges extending inwardly from a peripheryof the furnace collectively defined by a front, a rear and oppositesides of the furnace, the apparatus comprising:

a furnace engagement member extending longitudinally from a first end ofthe furnace engagement member to a second end thereof;

the furnace engagement member defining a generally planar top surfacefor contacting the bottom of the furnace and an underside which isopposite to the top surface;

an attachment arrangement respectively located at or adjacent each oneof the first and second ends and arranged for facilitating connection ofthe furnace engagement member to a respective one of the flanges of thefurnace; and

at least one leg oriented transversely to the generally planar topsurface and coupled to the underside of the furnace engagement member ata location thereon which is spaced in a longitudinal direction from arespective one of the first and second ends of the furnace engagementmember further inwardly than the attachment arrangement disposed at oradjacent the respective one of the first and second ends.

This provides a relatively simple arrangement that mounts to aconventional style of furnace bottom so that the furnace is supported bythe support surface thereunder.

In one arrangement, the furnace engagement member is a channel having abase wall and opposite side walls upstanding from a common side of thebase wall, and the underside is defined laterally between the side wallsand the top surface is defined on an opposite side of the base wall tothe side walls.

In one arrangement, the attachment arrangement comprises a hole whichopens at the top surface and at the underside for passing a fastenerthrough the furnace engagement member for interconnecting with thefurnace.

In one arrangement, the at least one leg comprises a plurality of legsconnected at longitudinally spaced locations on the furnace engagementmember.

Preferably, the at least one leg is adjustable in height measured fromthe underside of the furnace engagement member to a foot of the legdisposed distally thereto.

When there are provided a plurality of furnace engagement members,preferably each is mounted to the bottom of the furnace at a locationspaced from the other in a direction from the front to the rear of thefurnace and in a manner so as to extend from one of the sides of thefurnace to the other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating in invertedorientation an arrangement of apparatus for supporting a furnace used toheat a building, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view schematically showing a plurality of theapparatus of FIG. 1 mounted to a bottom of a furnace with a stiffeningmember omitted for clarity of illustration; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 in FIG. 2 but with thestiffening member now shown.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The accompanying figures show an apparatus 20 for supporting a furnace 1used to heat a building. More specifically, the apparatus 20 supports abottom 2 of the furnace which is spaced above a support surface S of thebuilding by bridging a gap G between the furnace bottom and the supportsurface S. The furnace bottom 2 is defined by a plurality of flanges 3through 6 extending inwardly from a periphery 7 of the furnace which iscollectively defined by a front 8, a rear 9 and opposite sides10 and 11of the furnace. Inner edges 13 of the flanges 3-6 which are spacedinwardly from the furnace periphery define an opening.

The apparatus 20 thus comprises a furnace engagement member 22 whichextends longitudinally from a first end 24 to a second end 25. Thefurnace engagement member 22 defines between its opposite ends 24, 25 agenerally planar top surface 27 for contacting the bottom 2 of thefurnace, which also is planar, and further defines an underside 29 whichis opposite to the top surface 27 and generally faces downwardly towardsthe support surface S when the apparatus 20 is mounted to the furnacebottom 2. In the illustrated arrangement, the underside 29 also isgenerally planar and is substantially parallel to the top surface 27.

As more clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in the illustrated arrangementthe furnace engagement member 22 is a channel having a base wall 32 andopposite side walls 34 and 35 upstanding from a common side of the basewall 32 such that the channel is regarded as being generally C or Ushaped in cross-section. The underside 29 of the furnace engagementmember is defined laterally between the side walls 34, 35 and the topsurface 27 is defined on an opposite side of the base wall to the sidewalls 34, 35 such that a whole of the top surface is available forengaging the furnace bottom 2. Furthermore, there is provided astiffening member in the form of an elongate plate 36 interconnectingthe side walls 34, 35 of the channel so as to bridge therebetween forfurther stiffening the furnace engagement member. Thus the furnaceengagement member of the illustrated arrangement is generally tubular inshape.

The apparatus 20 further includes an attachment arrangement 38respectively located at or adjacent each one of the first and secondends 24, 25 that is arranged for facilitating connection of the furnaceengagement member 22 to a respective one of the flanges 3-6 of thefurnace. In the illustrated arrangement, and as more clearly shown inFIG. 3, the attachment arrangement 38 comprises a pair of holes 40 eachof which is laterally spaced from the other and opens at the top surface27 and at the underside 29 so as to be formed through a thickness of thefurnace engagement member 22 for passing a fastener 42 through the samefor interconnecting the furnace engagement member 22 with the furnace 1.Each of the holes 40 are slightly spaced from the respective one of thefirst and second ends 24, 25 to which they are located most closely butare otherwise generally located at the ends of the furnace engagementmember 22. Each one of the pair of the holes 40 defines a distinctelement of the attachment arrangement 38 located at a common end 24, 25of the furnace engagement member. It will be appreciated that thestiffening member 36 is sized shorter in length between its oppositeends 43, 44 which generally are adjacent the ends 24, 25 of the channelthan the length of the channel so as not to obstruct passage of thefasteners 42 through the holes 40.

Furthermore, the apparatus 20 includes at least one leg 45 orientedtransversely to the generally planar top surface 27 and coupled to theunderside 29 of the furnace engagement member 22 at a location thereonwhich is spaced in a longitudinal direction from a respective one of thefirst and second ends 24, 25 of the furnace engagement member furtherinwardly than the attachment arrangement 38 disposed at or adjacent therespective one of the first and second ends 24, 25. In other words,relative to the longitudinal direction of the furnace engagement memberthe attachment arrangement 38 is located intermediate the respective leg45 and the respective furnace engagement member end 24 or 25. Also, asthe underside 29 is generally planar, the respective leg 45 is orientedtransversely thereto, too.

In the illustrated arrangement, the at least one leg comprises aplurality of legs 45 connected at longitudinally spaced locations on thefurnace engagement member 22. Each leg is disposed generally laterallycentrally of the furnace engagement member and are aligned in thelongitudinal direction of the engagement member.

In the illustrated arrangement each leg 45 is formed by an internallythreaded barrel 47 welded to the underside 29 of the furnace engagementmember which itself is metallic. The leg 45 further comprises a threadedrod 48 which is received coaxially of the barrel 47 so as to be movableaxially thereof by threadable mating of the rod and barrel. A foot 50 isprovided on the end of the rod 48 which is distal to the barrel 47 andthe underside 29 of the furnace engagement member. As such, each leg 45is adjustable in height measured from the underside 29 of the furnaceengagement member 22 to the foot 50 of the leg disposed distallythereto. A nut 52 is threadably engaged on the rod 48 of each leg forselective engagement with an exposed end of the barrel 47 so as to fixthe height of the leg 45. Furthermore, the stiffening member 36 includesa respective hole 53 which is registered with each leg 45 and is formedthrough a thickness of the stiffening member from a top side which isopposite the underside 29 of the channel to a bottom side which facesthe support surface S, so as that the respective leg 45 extends throughthe plate 36 to its foot 50 presented below the stiffening member 36.

In use, prior to connecting to ductwork of the building, the furnace 1is inverted so that its bottom 2 is facing upwardly, and the apparatus20 is attached to the bottom 2. Referring now to FIG. 2, each furnaceengagement member 22 typically is longitudinally elongated and thus aplurality of the apparatuses 20 are provided for attaching to thefurnace bottom 2, each being mounted to the bottom of the furnace at alocation spaced from the other in a direction from the front 8 to therear 9 of the furnace and in a manner so as to extend from one of thesides 10 of the furnace to the other 11. The holes 40 of the attachmentarrangement 38 are registered with the one of the flanges 3-6 of thefurnace so that the respective fastener 42 can be passed through thefurnace engagement member 22 and into the furnace flange to mount theapparatus 20 to the furnace 1. Each one of the holes 40 at a common end24 or 25 of the furnace engagement member facilitate connection to adifferent flange of the furnace. In the mounted condition of theapparatus 20, the legs 45 thereof are spaced further inwardly from theperiphery of the furnace 1 as compared to the inner edges 13 of theflanges 3-6.

Referring to FIG. 3, with the apparatus 20 mounted to the bottom 2 ofthe furnace, the furnace can be re-oriented so that the bottom 2 isadjacent the support surface S, and the ductwork (not shown) isconnected to the furnace 1. The legs 45 depend from the mounted furnaceengagement member 22 and extend downwardly to the support surface Swhich is engaged by the foot 50, so as to bridge the gap G. The leg 45is adjusted to the proper height thereof so that the furnace 1 issupported by the support surface S thereunder via the apparatus 20.

Thus is provided a relatively simple arrangement that mounts to aconventional style of furnace bottom so that the furnace is supported bythe support surface thereunder.

Generally speaking, as described herein, a furnace for heating abuilding has its bottom supported spaced above a support surface by anapparatus which comprises a furnace engagement member defining agenerally planar top surface for contacting the bottom of the furnaceand an underside which is opposite to the top surface; an attachmentarrangement respectively located at or adjacent each end of the furnaceengagement member and arranged for facilitating connection thereof to arespective flange of the furnace defining the bottom of the furnace; anda leg oriented transversely to the generally planar top surface andcoupled to the underside of the furnace engagement member at a locationthereon which is spaced in a longitudinal direction from a respectiveend of the furnace engagement member further inwardly than theattachment arrangement disposed thereat or adjacent thereto.

The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferredembodiments set forth in the examples but should be given the broadestinterpretation consistent with the specification as a whole.

1. Apparatus for supporting a furnace used to heat a building, thefurnace having a bottom which is spaced above a support surface of thebuilding and which is defined by a plurality of flanges extendinginwardly from a periphery of the furnace collectively defined by afront, a rear and opposite sides of the furnace, the apparatuscomprising: a furnace engagement member extending longitudinally from afirst end of the furnace engagement member to a second end thereof; thefurnace engagement member defining a generally planar top surface forcontacting the bottom of the furnace and an underside which is oppositeto the top surface; an attachment arrangement respectively located at oradjacent each one of the first and second ends and arranged forfacilitating connection of the furnace engagement member to a respectiveone of the flanges of the furnace; and at least one leg orientedtransversely to the generally planar top surface and coupled to theunderside of the furnace engagement member at a location thereon whichis spaced in a longitudinal direction from a respective one of the firstand second ends of the furnace engagement member further inwardly thanthe attachment arrangement disposed at or adjacent the respective one ofthe first and second ends.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thefurnace engagement member is a channel having a base wall and oppositeside walls upstanding from a common side of the base wall, and theunderside is defined laterally between the side walls and the topsurface is defined on an opposite side of the base wall to the sidewalls.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the attachment arrangementcomprises a hole opening at the top surface and the underside forpassing a fastener through the furnace engagement member forinterconnecting with the furnace.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid at least one leg comprises a plurality of legs connected atlongitudinally spaced locations on the furnace engagement member.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one leg is adjustable inheight measured from the underside of the furnace engagement member to afoot of the leg disposed distally thereto.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,in combination with the furnace, wherein there are provided a pluralityof furnace engagement members each mounted to the bottom of the furnaceat a location spaced from the other in a direction from the front to therear of the furnace and in a manner so as to extend from one of thesides of the furnace to the other.
 7. A furnace used to heat a buildingcomprising: a housing having a bottom which is spaced above a supportsurface of the building and which is defined by a plurality of flangesextending inwardly from a periphery of the furnace collectively definedby a front, a rear and opposite sides of the furnace; and an apparatusfor supporting the furnace comprising: a furnace engagement memberextending longitudinally from a first end of the furnace engagementmember to a second end thereof; the furnace engagement member defining agenerally planar top surface for contacting the bottom of the furnaceand an underside which is opposite to the top surface; an attachmentarrangement respectively located at or adjacent each one of the firstand second ends and arranged for facilitating connection of the furnaceengagement member to a respective one of the flanges of the furnace; andat least one leg oriented transversely to the generally planar topsurface and coupled to the underside of the furnace engagement member ata location thereon which is spaced in a longitudinal direction from arespective one of the first and second ends of the furnace engagementmember further inwardly than the attachment arrangement disposed at oradjacent the respective one of the first and second ends.
 7. The furnaceof claim 7 wherein the furnace engagement member is a channel having abase wall and opposite side walls upstanding from a common side of thebase wall, and the underside is defined laterally between the side wallsand the top surface is defined on an opposite side of the base wall tothe side walls.
 8. The furnace of claim 7 wherein the attachmentarrangement comprises a hole opening at the top surface and theunderside for passing a fastener through the furnace engagement memberfor interconnecting with the furnace.
 9. The furnace of claim 7 whereinsaid at least one leg comprises a plurality of legs connected atlongitudinally spaced locations on the furnace engagement member. 10.The furnace of claim 7 wherein said at least one leg is adjustable inheight measured from the underside of the furnace engagement member to afoot of the leg disposed distally thereto.
 11. The furnace of claim 7wherein there is provided a plurality of furnace engagement members eachmounted to the bottom of the furnace at a location spaced from the otherin a direction from the front to the rear of the furnace and in a mannerso as to extend from one of the sides of the furnace to the other.